This is the incredible moment premature twins entered the world, cuddling each other tightly.
Fully embraced, the ten week premature sisters, Aria and Skylar Morgan-Trodden, were delivered by C-section, with one reassuringly wrapping her tiny arms around her sibling.
The touching photo which shows their unbreakable bond, was captured by a midwife, just as the sisters were born at exactly the same time, and shared by their dads Kyran Trodden, 25, and Ryan Morgan, 28, from Staines, Surrey.
Their proud dads were able to watch the moment their daughter’s were born and have shared the heart-warming photograph, as part of their rollercoaster surrogacy journey to become dads.
The gay parents have documented the girl’s birth and recent homecoming and hope that by sharing their experience, they can encourage other same sex couples to try for a family.
The twins had to under an in utero procedure after the 20 week scan when it was found their suffered from the Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, which could have threatened both their lives.
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An amazing photo taken by a nurse shows twins Aria and Skylar Morgan-Trodden cuddling one another as they are being born during a C-section in London in November
The twins now, wearing matching pyjamas. Kyran and Ryan hope to encourage other same-sex couple who want to become parents by sharing their surrogacy journey
As the identical girls were delivered by their surrogate mother, they can be seen holding on to one another, positioned exactly as they were snuggled in the womb just seconds before.
Kyran and his fiancé Ryan said that it is a ‘dream come true’ and they are ‘truly blessed’.
The couple became dads for the first time in November, after a relative selflessly offered to carry a baby for them.
They excitedly embraced every moment of their pregnancy, finding out at six weeks they were expecting not one, but two little miracles.
The babies, pictured in hospital, can always be found cuddling up to another when they are sleeping
Kyran, a deputy manager at a preschool and Ryan, a customer service advisor, organised a gender reveal and shared adorable snaps on their family Instagram account @themorgantroddens, counting down to the arrival and showing sneak peeks of a stylish nursery and bursting wardrobes filled with pink frills.
But the pregnancy took a worrying turn when at 20 weeks the family were told their unborn daughters were diagnosed with TTTS – twin to twin transfusion syndrome – and the couple feared that they were going to lose one daughter.
The couple’s surrogate was rushed to hospital the same day, to have laser ablation surgery which was successful.
Kyran said: ‘We were very anxious and scared but the hospital staff were absolutely amazing.
‘Every week afterwards we had a scan to ensure they were doing ok.’
Their twin girls were born ten weeks early, arriving at 29 weeks on November 23 – long before their early February due date.
Skylar was born weighing just 2lbs 2oz with her sister Aria, weighing just 2lbs 4oz.
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The twin sisters were born prematurely – ten weeks earlier than their due date – but are now healthy little bundles of joy
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Proud fathers Ryan Morgan, 28, (left) and Kyran Trodden, 25, (right) had the babies via a relative who offered to be their surrogate and could not attend the birth but visited as soon as was possible (pictured)
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Aria and Skylar cuddling together in hospital shortly after their birth. While the two fathers were worried for their premature daughters at first, they are now developing healthily
Ryan holding his daughters in his arms in hospital. The new dad tested positive for covid the day after the birth and the new dads were forced to isolate, but later visited as soon as they could
The couple met five years ago and embarked on their journey to become parents three years into their relationship.
They were overwhelmed when their daughter’s arrived, premature but healthy – but heartbreakingly, their joy was short lived when Kyran tested positive for Covid the day after the birth and the new dads were forced to isolate.
Kyran said: ‘We were heartbroken to not be able to be there with them, but the staff were absolutely incredible and they kept us updated every single day with photos and videos.’
After spending five weeks in hospital, the mono identical girls came home on Boxing Day and Kyran said their homecoming was ‘the best Christmas gift they could have asked for.’
The two dads, who could not meet their daughters right away because of covid, said hospital staff would keep them updated at all times (pictured when they finally could visit)
He added: ‘The whole journey was amazing, we had our ups, downs, laughs and tears, and jam packed full of emotions. It really tested us, we felt every emotion.
‘Obviously we went in to it thinking we were having one baby but at six weeks we found out it was actually twins which was an amazing shock.’
The lads, who were due to marry last September but had to cancel due to lockdown, hope their story will encourage more gay couples who want to become parents.
The couple added: ‘To our surrogate, we will be forever in debt to her and can’t thank her enough for the gift of two precious lives. We thank her so much, there are no words that can ever truly tell her how grateful we are.’
Babies’ first Christmas! Aria and Skylar spend little time apart. Kyran said the surrogacy had tested the couple in every way
Aria and Skylar cuddling in hospital in the days following their births. The twins left hospital just in time for Boxing Day, where they finally got to go home
Ryan and Kyran were due to get married in September 2020 but had to postpone their plans due to Covid-19
The two sisters having a cuddle in hospital. During the pregnancy, the family were told the twins were diagnosed with TTTS – twin to twin transfusion syndrome – meaning their shared placenta and blood vessels, a condition that could be fatal to one of the twins and required surgical intervention
The two sisters having a nap on their bed. Kyran admitted the pregnancy was a stressful time for the couple, who had to have their babies scanned every week to make sure they were ok